Rene Rodriguez

WARSAW — A man who slapped a woman on her face causing a laceration to the lower lip and hit her on the hip with a belt, has been arrested on domestic battery charges.

Rene Rodriguez, 29, 908 Oak Brook Place, Warsaw, was arrested Monday evening, March 14, on charges of domestic battery with a child under 16 present, a level 6 felony, and domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor. The misdemeanor charge has been enhanced to a level 6 felony due to the fact Rodriguez was convicted on Dec. 5, 2014, of a charge of domestic battery.

Warsaw Police were called around 12:32 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, to a domestic battery at 908 Oak Brook Place, Warsaw. Police spoke to the female, at the residence, who stated she and Rodriguez were arguing when he became angry and slapped her on her face, causing the lip laceration. She also told police she had marks on her right hip from being hit with a belt.

During the argument and physical confrontation, two children were present in the home and could hear the argument and sound of someone being hit.

Police spoke with Rodriguez on Feb. 14, who stated the two did have an argument and that she had hit him on top of the head. She also took a swing at him with a hammer, grazing his leg. He stated he did put his hands on her face and pushed her away, causing the laceration and admitted to hitting her with a belt causing red marks on her hip.

He is being held on a $6,000 surety bond.